Push-To-Open Container

ABSTRACT

The container contains a cap element, a hollow case member with an open top side, a tab element, and an elastic element. The cap element is hinged to the case member so that the cap element can be flipped to reveal or cover the case member. The tab element is hinged to a front side of the case member locking the cap element, and the elastic element is configured to a rear side of the case member that is bended by the cap element when the cap element closes the case member. When the tab element is depressed, the cap element is released, and the elasticity of the elastic element pushes open the cap element. The elastic element helps reducing the friction between the cap element and the case member, thereby enhancing the convenience and reliability of opening the container.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(a) Technical Field of the Invention

The present invention is generally related to containers, and more particular to a container that can be easily opened by depressing a tab.

(b) Description of the Prior Art

Generally a container involves a lid and a case joined together, or integrally formed to create an enclosed space for storage.

To open the container, a user has to use one hand to hold the case, and use the other hand to open the lid, which can be quite inconvenient when one hand is occupied, or when the lid and case are too tightly joined.

Therefore there are easy-to-open containers such as the one taught by U.S. Pat. No. 7,624,890, which involves a cap member and a base member. The cap and base members are rotatably joined and, when a tab is depressed, the cap member is popped open.

The above-described container suffers a number of disadvantages. When the tab is not depressed to a certain extent, an insufficient force is released and the cap member is opened only partially. The cap member has to be further flipped. In addition, where the cap and base members are joined may suffer wear and damage after a period of usage.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To obviate the shortcomings of the prior art, a novel push-to-open container is provided herein. The push-to-open container contains a cap element, a hollow case member with an open top side, a tab element, and an elastic element. The cap element is hinged to the case member so that the cap element can be flipped to reveal or cover the case member. The tab element is hinged to a front side of the case member locking the cap element, and the elastic element is configured to a rear side of the case member that is bended by the cap element when the cap element closes the case member. When the tab element is depressed, the cap element is released, and the elasticity of the elastic element pushes open the cap element. The elastic element helps reducing the friction between the cap element and the case member, thereby enhancing the convenience and reliability of opening the container.

The foregoing objectives and summary provide only a brief introduction to the present invention. To fully appreciate these and other objects of the present invention as well as the invention itself, all of which will become apparent to those skilled in the art, the following detailed description of the invention and the claims should be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Throughout the specification and drawings identical reference numerals refer to identical or similar parts.

Many other advantages and features of the present invention will become manifest to those versed in the art upon making reference to the detailed description and the accompanying sheets of drawings in which a preferred structural embodiment incorporating the principles of the present invention is shown by way of illustrative example.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective diagram showing a push-to-open container according to an embodiment of the present invention when the container is closed.

FIG. 2 is a perspective break-down diagram showing the push-to-open container of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional diagram showing the inside of the push-to-open container of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is another cross-sectional diagram showing the inside of the push-to-open container of FIG. 1 when it is about to be opened.

FIG. 5 is a perspective diagram showing a push-to-open container of FIG. 1 when it is opened.

FIG. 6 is a perspective diagram showing an application involving a number of push-to-open containers of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The following descriptions are exemplary embodiments only, and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability or configuration of the invention in any way. Rather, the following description provides a convenient illustration for implementing exemplary embodiments of the invention. Various changes to the described embodiments may be made in the function and arrangement of the elements described without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, a push-to-open container according to an embodiment of the present invention contains a cap element 1, a hollow case member 2 with an open top side, a tab element 3, and an elastic element 4. A rear edge of the cap element 1 and a top rear edge of the case member 2 are hinged together so that the cap element 1 can be flipped to reveal or cover the open top side of the case member 2. On a bottom side of the cap element 1, there are a U-shaped first lock piece 12 adjacent to a front edge, and an indentation 11 adjacent to the rear edge of the cap element 1. The tab element 3 has a front section and a top section edge-to-edge joined together to form an L-shaped cross-section. A protruding second lock piece 31 is extended downward from a rear edge of the top section of the tab element 3. The tab element 3 is hinged to a front side of the case member 2 so that the second lock piece 31 is able to engage the first lock piece 12 when the cap element 1 closes the case member 2. The elastic element 4 is configured to a rear side of the case member 2. The elastic element 4 contains a major piece 41 and an elastic arm 42 extended upward from a top edge of the major piece 41. As the above components are put together, the elastic arm 42 is originally in an upright position which is received by the indentation 11 of the cap element 1 and attached to a bottom side of the cap element 1.

When the cap element 1 is flipped downward to cover the case member 2 in a closure position and locked by the tab element 3, the elastic arm 42 is forced into a forward bending position as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. When the tab element 3 is depressed along a lower section, the second lock piece 31 releases the first lock piece 12 of the cap element 1. The elasticity of the elastic arm 42 restores the elastic arm 42 back to the upright position and, as such, the elastic arm 42 pushes open the cap element 1 into an open position. The inside of the case member 2 is therefore revealed. As the elastic arm 42 is configured at where the cap element 1 and the case member 2 are hinged, the restoration of the elastic arm 42 can help reducing the friction between the cap element 1 and the case member 2, thereby enhancing the convenience and reliability of opening the push-to-open container.

As shown in FIG. 6, a number of push-to-open containers according to the present invention can be configured and arranged together so as to provide multiple compartments of storage for storing, for example, pills.

While certain novel features of this invention have been shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claim, it is not intended to be limited to the details above, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the claims of the present invention. 

1. A push-to-open container, comprising: a hollow case member with an open top side; a cap element having a rear edge hinged to a top rear edge of the case member and an indentation adjacent to the rear edge where the cap element is able to be flipped into an open position to reveal or in a closure position to cover the open top side of the case member; a tab element hinged to a front side of the case member locking the cap element when the cap element is in the closure position; and an elastic element comprising a major piece configured to the rear side of the case member and an elastic arm extended below a bottom side of the cap element through the indentation from a top edge of the major piece, where the elastic arm is in an upright position when the cap element is in the open position, and the elastic arm is concealed and bended by the cap element in a forward bending position when the cap element is in the closure position; wherein, when the cap element is in the closure position and the tab element is depressed, the tab element releases the cap element; the elasticity of the elastic arm restores the elastic arm to the upright position from the forward bending position; and the cap element is pushed open by the restored elastic arm into the open position.
 2. The push-to-open container according to claim 1, wherein the cap element comprises a first lock piece on a bottom side adjacent to a front edge of the cap element; the tab element comprises a second lock piece along a rear edge of a top section of the tab element; and the second lock piece locks the first lock piece when the cap element is in the closure position. 3-5. (canceled) 